The Malta Drama Centre last month participated in an international drama encounter in Freudenstadt, Germany. The festival, organised under the auspices of the Youth Programme of the European Union, got together theatre students from Italy, Germany, France, Poland, Greece and Malta. The groups were merged together in drama workshops featuring a diversity of methods. Every evening each nationality performed its respective theatre piece in front of the local community.

The Maltese theatre group, representing the intermediate sector of students at the Malta Drama Centre, staged an adapted and innovative version of Carlo Goldoni's La Locandiera (The Mistress of the Inn). It was the only play in English at the festival, prompting English teachers to urge students to attend the play not only for theatrical reasons but also for linguistic interest.

The Maltese play was also the only peformance to have had its premiere at the festival and the only piece to be enhanced by live music. The audience received the play enthusiastically and engaged in intelligent debate about the unorthodox treatment of Goldoni, whose "Mistress" was interpreted by no less than three actors, including a male.

The group was tutored by Lino Farrugia Reuben Gauci and Joyce Grech, while the original musical score was provided by Norman Cristina. The group was made up of Stephanie Bugeja, Jessica Camilleri, Joanne Camillieri, Anthony Debattista, Chris Degiorgio, Ilona Dougall, Ilaria Falzon and Andrea Zammit, all holders of drama certificates from Trinity College and Guildhall of London.

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